Coastal erosion comes under council scrutiny

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Taranaki's coastal erosion woes will be investigated in hopes of one day managing the ongoing issue.

This week the New Plymouth District Council announced a district wide coastal erosion project that will sharpen all of the plans related to erosion along the length of the district's coastline.

The Taranaki coastline is notorious for erosion and already this year 8 metres has eroded from the seaside village of Onaero.

Lucy Graydon, the council's manager of corporate strategy and policy, said coastal erosion was a growing issue that needed to be addressed.

The investigation, which came out of a review of the council's Coastal Strategy Implementation Plan, would focus on two key areas, she said.

Extensive research would be done into the significance and cause of coastal erosion, and that would be followed by research into the best practises for control from around the world.

Graydon said there was no indication yet of how much the project would cost.

"Obviously that is an important factor, so once we have scoped out the project and worked out the extent of research and engagement that is needed we will have a feeling for the cost and we will be able to report it back to the council," she said.

Large numbers of the community lived in coastal areas, like Oakura and Urenui, and the spots were also good tourist areas.